Evolution of the field of operations management

Abstract

Abstract This Special Issue of the Journal of Operations Management consists of 16 articles by 26 authors covering Operations Managements (OM) topics and issues from the 16th century to the 21st with predictions for the future. While it does not pretend to be comprehensive, it is representative of the types of subjects of inquiry through out this historical period in what could be considered OM. This introduction attempts to put the papers in context, and concludes with comments about what might be considered fundamental concepts which, taken as a set, can be seen as the foundations of Operations Management today.